The Egyptian people determine the fate of Egypt, Iran’s minister of foreign affairs said on Thursday in a telephone conversation with his Egyptian counterpart.

During the conversation, Iran’s foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, stressed to Mohamed Kamel Amr “that Egypt is a big country with an influential and governing role in the region,” according to a statement published by the Egyptian ministry.

The ministry reported that Salehi said, “It is the Egyptian people who should determine the fate of their country,” adding, “the Egyptian army is a national army.” Amr expressed his appreciation to Salehi for his statements.

Last week Egypt condemned comments made by Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian ministry’s spokesperson as “interference in Egyptian affairs.”

In an interview with the Islamic Republic News Agency, Araghchi said that the removal of Mohamed Morsi as president of Egypt was not “a failure of Islamic awakening.” He also criticised the involvement of the armed forces and condemned demonstrations against the former president, saying “it was not an appropriate way to change presidents.”

Amr also spoke with the Luxembourgian foreign minister on Thursday as part of continued contact with international counterparts to discuss the current situation in Egypt. A ministry statement said that Amr “presented an explanation of the political developments taking place in the country and the main parameters of the road map and the constitutional declaration.”

Last week Assistant Minister for American Affairs Taher Farhat met with ambassadors from Latin American countries, the United States and Canada to discuss recent developments in Egypt.